Dungeon Fire and Sword: The Knights Templar in the Crusades

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Summary: The Martyred Order
Review: Robinson's history of the Knights Templars is not only a brilliant history of that lost order; it is probably also the best popular history of the Crusades to date. While it is clear that he has borrowed the Runciman chronology, not everyone has the time to read three volumes, and besides, even if you've read Runciman (as I had), Robinson's eye for color (and for the gruesome) makes this journey worth retaking. Other features of the story which are without parallel are the brilliant exposition of the basic tenets of Islam; his wonderful chapters on the Assassins, and the final, ghastly post-Crusade ordeal of the Templars during their trials and ultimate suppression. A tour de force.

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Summary: Same old song in a new cover!
Review: Robinson's workignores the new findings on these Knights. Are you kidding? He really believes these men banded together to be the good samaritans of thechurch world? When entire armies no nine men could stnd. It's ridiculous. Better to read the new material than this rehased moldy stuff. Seek out Ken Agori, or Barb Thiering.Forget this.

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Summary: One of the best written books, I ever got my hands on !
Review: The book flows like a story, it draws you in to the historical events in away I have never thought possible. It made me lose many hours of sleep, because I was unable to close the book. John J. Robinson did a fine job. (Rest in Peace)

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Summary: To the point history ,like reading an aincient newspaper.
Review: There is little to no embelishment in this book the writer alowed the events themselvs to hold our intrest to great effect.

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Summary: Stellar Entertainment
Review: This a fascinating historical narrative which reads very smoothly and keeps one's attention throughout with its amusing tangents and vivid descriptions of epic battles, prolonged sieges, and the grisly ends of many a valiant knight. As objective history its major shortcoming is Robinson's complete failure to explicate his sources, and therefore presents his facts as accurate without justification. Still, treated as a novel it is superb, and gives an excellent overview of the Crusades as a whole.

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Summary: A fatally flawed book
Review: This book tells a lot of interesting things, but I was dismayed that the author brags about not using footnotes, and admits that he presents as facts what ever seems to him to make the most sense. In other words, he is not concerned about what is true, but simply picks out what he thinks happened and then says it did. When a historical question is presented, instead of telling us there are two or more versions of what happened, Robinson simply picks out one version and tells us that is what happened! For instance, he says Pope Boniface VIII had the abdicated Pope, St. Celestine V, smothered with a pillow. It is true Boniface was accused of that, but I believe it is generally accepted that it is untrue. Because it "seems to make sense" to Robinson his book says that is what happened. How many other things in the book are arbitrarily decided by Robinson "to make sense" and are therefore presented as historical fact I do not know. But readers should approach this book with caution. A far better account of the Crusades is Steven Runciman's three volume history. A historian who avoids giving his sources is to be approached with caution, I feel.

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Summary: Incredible Story!
Review: This book was well recommended by the other readers in this column. It is the saga of the Knights Templar, and their role in the crusades to restore christianity in the Holy Land. Ripe with facts that gets brutal at times, yet enlightening. This book shows the treachery of popes and nobles, to the gallant knights who vowed to give their lives to the order. All in all, a fascinating journey back in time to a place where honor reigned supreme among most men. And, Kings, clergy, and layman would fight to the end for their beliefs.

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Summary: Don't ever let anybody say that history is boring!
Review: This book, without question, is the most fascinating book I've ever read; one reads such accounts and wonders why anyone would bother to write fiction. Mr. Robinson's telling of this history insightfully looks not just at the facts and dates, but at the personas, influences, and lasting historical effects of the crusades. Unfortunately, shining such a light on the individuals and organizations involved (including the Catholic church) reveals that there are very few "good guys" in real life -- thus casting an unflattering shadow on our history..

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Summary: History the way it SHOULD be written!!
Review: This is a great book, not only for studying the Knights Templar, but the Crusades themselves! It reads almost like a novel; extremely engaging, without sacrificing scholarship. This is the way history SHOULD be written!

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Summary: Dungeon Fire and Sword: The Knights Templar in the Crusades
Review: This is the most comprehensive work I have ever read. It will explain the entire crusades as if you were there. No false facts. It is everything that one would ever need to know about the real events that occured during the crusades. I picked the book up strictly because the television news was trying to draw a comparison between the war going to Afganistan and the crusades. It is amazing how the events of today resemble the events of the past. Religion versus religion, the ultimate conflict As a Catholic who attended Catholic schools through his entire education, I was amazed at how frank and to the point this book explained the facts. Every Catholic who really wants to have a feel for his past leaders needs to read the book. I was extremely disappointed that we as westerners have glorified so many who did so little. Too many saints for such a dismal time. It's ashame that everyone in the world can't be exposed to this past. The main point of our existance is that we have "a" faith, and from our faith there comes an appreciation of our time on this planet and a respect for those around us. For all of us who believe there is a GOD we must learn to respect each other. One day when we leave this planet the God who was so generous to let us be here will explain it to us.

God bless all those who died making this history. If only we could become more tolerant this could trily become heaven on earth. This book truly shows how short a distance we have come after so many years.